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One of my biggest “gross” moments is when guys don’t wash their hands after using the bathroom to pee. Even though %95 my guy friends agree with me on how gross and disgusting that is, some of them argue that they don’t really touch anything, so why should they wash their hands.

I remember the first time I had my guy friends over to hang out, I told them when they’re in my house they have to wash their hands after using the washroom and wash their hands if they’re getting something from the kitchen. I have no issues when it comes to telling them how nasty it is when they don’t wash their hands, even at work, if I notice someone not washing their hands after using the washroom, I’ll bring up the topic somehow and make sure they know I think they’re gross. It amazes me how people are so careless specially after the Swine-flu and Sars and all sorts of other diseases going around.

All that said, imagine how I felt after I realized that the repairman my internet company had sent for me to fix my modem did not wash his hands after using my washroom. So GROSS!!! I was so shocked. I ended up taking an hour and cleaning everything he touched before and after the washroom incident. I was so shocked, I always thought repair men for big companies have to go through some sort of repairmen etiquette courses before they are released in to the world. You know, take your shoes off, be clean, wash your hands after using the washroom, be polite. Sigh….or is that just a myth and there are no courses like that?

I actually got tempted to call and complain about the incident but at the same time I didn’t want them to think I’m a weirdo. haha. I’m a weirdo who doesn’t want to get sick (ironically, I’m actually very sick now with a bad stomach flu!). I hate repairmen from hell, and Phil from Bell, you’re SUPER GROSS!!!!!

I recently was a victim of a gender discrimination crime. That’s right, gender discrimination I say. I honest to god believe that most women, at least %80, do not know a thing about car repair or how to keep up a car, and they get taken advantage of by mechanics all over the world! I’m talking beyond oil changes and putting gas in the car, more like when it’s time to buy new tires, or the difference between a good thump and bad thump noise.

My parents believed in taking their car to get regular maintenance by an official dealership service center. I watched my dad take our cars in every once in a while for checkups, oil change, batteries and etc. So, when I grew up and got a car I followed the same school of thought, yes it costs more than your average joe car shop but at least I know they’re not using crap pieces on my car.

This is how I became a victim………I love my car, a beautiful Volkswagen, 6 years old and only 64000 on it, that is apparently good. Back in May I called my service center to see if my car was up for any checkups, “don’t worry, you haven’t put on too many kilometers since your last checkup, bring it in before winter.”, said the woman over the phone.(traitor!!! hahaha) Being a clueless person about cars I went “Super, so call you in November!”.

Well, November turned in to mid December and I felt the need to make that appointment the day before the first winter storm. I made the call and the woman said “bring it in, you’re up for a type 1 maintenance and its $150”, so I did. I went in and a different person told me “oh, your last major checkup was in 2006, you need a type 4 now.”

me: how much is that?

the guy: $500, but with that, we check everything in your car.

me: wow, expensive! Ummm, ok I guess I should do it to make sure my car is in working condition for the winter.

the guy: yes ma’am, so we be done with it in 2 hours or so.

2.5 hours later, I’m chatting away on my phone trying to work on my laptop when the same guy walks up to me with a concerned look.

me: its done??

the guy: I need to talk to you about somethings.

He pulls out a report filled with all these things I need to change on my car, NOW! Brakes (all 4 of them), battery, 2 tires, some light somewhere, something about exhaust pipe. The list goes on and on….

me: how much is all this gonna cost me????

the guy: well, $2200, but you still have to pay the $500, plus tax.

me: *cough* but, I don’t get it. I have to do this all now? I can’t, it’s A LOT of money! (remember I’m a student, I barely make any money at my full-time job)

the guy: I made a list, only do important stuff..brakes, battery and….

I tuned him out…..

So, I made a deal with the guy to only do only urgent/important stuff and only up to $1000, that’s including tax and the $500 fee.

Then he went off to do the changes, meantime after about 20 mins, I realized something, if I had brought my car in for a checkup in May like I thought I should I wouldn’t have been blind sided like this now. So, I went and talked to the service center manager and told him what happened and how because of their staff’s bad advice now I have all these things I need to do right before winter. I did not doubt the need to change the items on the list, normal wear and tear of a car. Following their staff’s bad advice put me in a bad situation and a grumpy mood.

So I manged to get some discount for the work I was getting done that day and when I take my car back in for the rest of the stuff I would get a discount then. So YAY!!!!!

Now, things I learned from my 4.5 hour stay at the waiting room of VW service center:

– Make note of the times you take your car in for checkups and maintenance